Uruzgan to fall if its roads not reopened: MPs

KABUL (Pajhwok): Wolesi Jirga members on Wednesday expressed concern over what they said increased insecurity in different parts of the country and warned the central Uruzgan province would fall to Taliban if its roads were not reopened.

Obaidullah Barakzai, who represents Uruzgan in the lower house, expressed his concern about the increasing insecurity in various parts of the country and said: “Unfortunately roads of the Uruzgan capital remain blocked over the past 37 days and in four districts over the past one year by Taliban.”

Speaking at the house session, the lawmaker said the issue to eliminate militants blocking highways had been shared with the government several times, but no practical action could not taken so far.

“Based on a deal, parts of Uruzgan and Helmand provinces are being handed over to Taliban. The conflict in the two provinces is over uranium deposits and narcotics, why the government is silent about the issue, it is really questionable,” Barakzai said, without providing details.

About a number of policemen who recently defected to Taliban in Uruzgan, the MP said: “The province would collapse to Taliban if security forces do not launch operations in-time.”

He asked the house administrative board to summon the interior minister, the acting defence minister and the acting National Directorate of Security (NDS) head to respond to the ongoing problems in Uruzgan.

A number of other lawmakers also complained about the deteriorating security situation in the country and asked relevant organs to take decisive action for improving the situation.

A lawmaker from Herat province, Nazir Ahmad Hanafi, said: “Terror activities, kidnappings and blasts are increasing in Herat by each passing day, we don’t know why but people are worried and are forced to leave the country.”

Sakhi Mashwani from from Kunar province also expressed concern about the security situation and called for summoning security officials to answer questions about their performance.

Speaker Abdur Rauf Ibrahimi said security forces besieged in Uruzgan should be rescued and militants threatening the province should be eliminated as soon as possible.

He ordered the house internal security and defense commission to investigate the issue and summon security officials and stress finding a solution to reopening of Uruzgan roads and eliminating militants on highways.